Sacred Architecture Seen from Above: A Different Perspective

We tend to be able to look at temples more or less as though we were the ground floor of the building--straining our necks to get a glimpse of the shikhara (spire) or following the elaborate stone work in the face of the building. There is something about Vedic architecture that is deep and nearly mathematical in its beauty, and only becomes visible after soaring into space.

When I swapped the old trekking path to a Chardham Yatra by Helicopter, I not only managed to save time, but I also had lessons in sacred geometry. These ancient shrines are not merely structures as seen from the sky but perfectly positioned anchors in a very large and disorderly mountain setting.

The Mandala of the Mountains

It is like the view out of the cockpit alters your perception of space, whether you are on a full circuit 2 dham yatra or a focused 2 dham yatra by helicopter. With the eyes fixed down at the Kedarnath temple, one observes how the temple is placed at the junction of glacial tracks, a monument of stone of permanency. These shrines have a design that is similar to a giant, organic mandala, seen from above.

The difference is dramatic for those who are flying for their Chardham Yatra from Singapore. You pass out of the calculated, vertical symmetry of a city of today and into a place where architecture was meant to fit in and adjust itself to the jagged and unpredictable Himalayan mountains.

Why "Luxury" is About Perspective

There is more than comfortable seating position or the fine food at the helipads in the selection of a luxury Chardham Yatra, though they are exquisite, gradually. The real-life luxury is the uninterrupted sight of the crown of the temple. You can see the golden kalash receive the first rays of the sun much earlier than the valley below is awakened.

When you do a Chardham tour package, you tend to anticipate a spiritual tour, but when you see how the Alaknanda river meanders around the shrine of Badrinath stunningly, you get the sense that it is a heavenly plan being put into effect. The temples are similar in that they appeared to grow out of the rock instead of being constructed on it.

A Geometry of Faith

This viewing of the shrines produces a certain peace. It is a privilege, but a very humiliating one. Now, do you see how the builders of these temples knew the precise locations of the energy of the mountains so long ago, and without drones and helicopters? They erected those buildings so that the gods could see them, and that a couple of moments in the air give you the same pleasure.

My Flight Diary Personal Recommendation

I have received so many of you writing to me on how to reconcile a high-technology life with this ancient spiritual way. In my expedition, I did not feel the need to dig into the how-to of mountain logistics. I contacted the team of Vaayu Aviation to do my flight arrangements, and this was the wisest decision I made. They controlled the times to such a degree that I never miss the "golden hour" of photography. 

In case you are seeking to observe the Himalayas in this remarkable new perspective and desire an outfit that regards the equipment and the enigma of the mountains with equal reverence, I would strongly recommend that you give them a call.